Agartala, Dec 13: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s outreach in tribal belt gained momentum on Saturday as more than 5,000 individuals enrolled in the party during a gathering at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan here in Agartala, where Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha accused rival political formations of using tribal communities as mere voting instruments while his government prioritizes genuine development.
The enrollment ceremony, organized by BJP’s Janajati Morcha, witnessed 5,050 members from 1,706 families joining the party as Dr. Saha and State BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee formally welcomed them by distributing party flags.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Saha drew sharp contrasts between past administrations and current governance. “The Bharatiya Janata Party does not function as a party of intimidators. We are an organization that works for the welfare of people,” he stated.
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“Previously, we witnessed various political entities emerging every five years. They established their rule through forceful tactics, similar to how the CPI(M) governed for 25 years. Truthfully, they never contemplated the actual progress of tribal populations,” he added.
The Chief Minister asserted his party’s electoral confidence ahead of TTAADC elections. “Among the 28 seats in the ADC, the BJP will achieve decisive victories in all 28 constituencies. We shall begin our counting from 20 seats in the forthcoming Assembly elections as well,” Dr. Saha declared.
Without explicitly identifying rivals, he questioned newer political entities. “Some leadership claims that without their participation in 2023, BJP could not have formed the government. My question to them is: where were they in 2018?” he asked pointedly.
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Dr. Saha also addressed accord implementation delays. “We face allegations about slow progress in implementing the agreement. However, the terms clearly specified a six-month period without protests following the signing. Yet agitations commenced immediately under different banners. Who violated the accord conditions?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, State BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, without naming specific parties, criticized what he termed diversionary politics. “Presently, certain political organizations are attempting to deny tribal communities educational rights through authoritarian methods. They seek to keep them occupied solely with Thansa and Greater Tipraland issues, preventing concentration on education and self-sufficiency,” he remarked.
Bhattacharjee emphasized educational importance. “Education represents the foremost requirement for tribal youth. Without education, holistic societal development remains unattainable. Therefore, appropriate steps to guide them toward educational advancement are essential,” he added.
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The event included Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma, Ministers Santana Chakma, Sushanta Chowdhury, Tinku Roy, and other senior BJP functionaries, signaling the party’s intensified focus on tribal constituencies ahead of next year’s TTAADC elections.